Ethiopia resumes housing program for the diaspora

Ethiopians in London attending a briefing on Diaspora Housing Program and Directive at the Ethiopian Embassy on May 9th, 2015. (Twitter)

New applicants for the Diaspora Housing Program are now welcome to register at most Ethiopian embassies, Gizeyat has learned.

In the US and Canada, registration at the embassies began in late April. The embassy in the UK also announced registrations will commence on May 18th, following a briefing it held with community members from the London Metropolitan area last Saturday.

According to a memo the embassies received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the regional states of Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Harari, Somali, Southern Peoples, Tigray, and the Dire Dawa City Administration have finalized their housing program directives and are ready to accept registrations.

Ambassador Berhanu Kebede during the briefing held at his embassy (Twitter)

Applicants can register individually or in associations of a minimum of 12 members for townhouses or apartments. According to the directives of most regional states, associations qualify for registration upon settlement of 50% of the construction cost except for Tigray region which stipulates full payment.

The least expensive apartments are offered in Amhara, Gambella, Harari, Somali, and Tigray regions that come in two bedrooms of 74 sq. m for ETB 424,390 (USD 20,668), following the 80 sq.m two-bedroom apartments in Oromia that go for ETB 400,000 (USD 19,480). The most expensive apartment in most of these regions costs ETB 779,960 (USD 37,984) for a four-bedroom unit on 136 sq. m.

The design of the houses can, as per the housing directives, either follow each region’s standard blueprint or use custom designs with the approval of the respective regional administrations. The construction of houses will be undertaken by the regional states’ housing development enterprises, except the Amhara, Oromia and Tigray regions, which have the option for associations to hire qualified private contractors.

The housing scheme, which was in motion since mid-last year, is open for Ethiopians overseas as well as for foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin who meet a set of qualifications.